Top Stories From Across Canada From Jan. 25-31

Edibles and extracts might not actually be available for sale when they become legal on Oct. 17, cannabis light pollution is a real thing and it’s affecting the colour of the sky in certain areas of Ontario, and a cannabis store in Newfoundland has closed, just four months since legalization.

We’ve rounded up this week’s top stories from across Canada.

Bill Blair: “You Weren’t Planning on Buying Edibles on October 17, Were You?”

It remains possible the federal government will file its regulations prior to October 17, but regardless LPs and other companies will be required to give the government 60 days written notice before selling new cannabis products. If that’s the only delay, consumers can expect the first new cannabis products no later than mid-December, but if Ottawa decides on other post-regulation delays, new products may not be legally available until 2020.

On his private Twitter, Health Canada analyst David Brown explained, “This is an oft-overlooked point. It’s not that sales will ‘miss’ a target date, but that the target date/coming into force will be the start date for producers to begin making these products. Don’t expect edibles in stores on day one as they likely won’t exist yet.”

This is an issue that has affected California’s Humboldt County for some time, but with the number of active LPs nearing 150 with hundreds more in the queue of licenses, this will soon be a Canada-wide issue. Last year, Canopy responded to complaints from residents near its Langley, BC production site by adding shades to its greenhouses—a costly project and one that can take a long time to accomplish. But hoping LPs will act in the neighbourhood interest will likely give rise to municipalities confronting LP light pollution with new regulations.

As Cerruti was taking her stand, Vice News was publishing even more allegations against Emery from a dozen sources, to which Emery responded with a Facebook post in which he addressed (and in some cases dismissed) four of those who allege he behaved inappropriately. Pablow Ferreyra, who was to speak on a panel with Emery, said, “As defenders of individual rights and liberties we accompany the feminist movement.” Emery was also removed from Vancouver’s upcoming Legalized Summit, where he was to be a keynote speaker and receive a lifetime achievement award. “We can’t be associating our brand with those kind of allegations,” said Legalized Events COO Harman Kang. “No way I would want to have him be put up for a lifetime achievement award.”

To Do List

VICTORIA, BC — Join the distinguished professor from the Faculty of Human and Social Development, University of Victoria as she documents the history of prohibition. The event is free to attend and takes place at the GVPL Central Branch Community Room on Feb. 1 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Playlist

PODCAST — This week on our Leafly Canada podcast, we chat with the cannabis activist recounts his first time dabbing and goes on to explain the different forms of dabs, how to make them, and how to consume them.